[Android Software Development] polstein:
I do own & sometime use Clutch Pad. (Didn't I mention it in this thread?)

I think overall, Clutch has the most promise of the different launchers (SwipePad, Clutch, Smart Taskbar, Gesture Launcher, Quick Launcher) - BUT - none are perfect yet.

Fortunately, Swipe, Clutch, and ST are are being worked on (have not heard from maker of GL & QL yet).

I've written some gmails to you (you replied to some), but I still think there are 2 key things that need to be worked on:

- the ability to add a shortcut (in addition to an app)

- overall speed & smoothness

My thought for Swipe & Clutch are to have my 8 (or so) top top programs as shortcuts. To get to my others, I would like 4 (or so) shortcuts to Folder Organizer folder labels. This way I could click a top 8 app OR at least click a folder & see all my "Tools" as an example.

Currently in Clutch, the only way to get to my Folder Organizer labels is on my desktop. So I have to hit Home (using Clutch) to get them. This means hitting on the 2 Clutch weaknesses - that sliding still isn't quite perfect even with tweaks, and lack of shortcut support.

On the plus side, Clutch has the large advantage of the "last task" thing (only one that has this awesome feature) and the "go home" thing that I asked for in this thread. Clutch also has multiple events (click, hold, slide in any direction) to trigger different things from the same one button! It also has a TON of features & settings and I'm convinced that given a little more time will be my staple launcher and will easily out-preform the others.

Swipe's big advantages for now are smoothness (he just put out a new version today that is supposed to make it even quicker), ability to handle shortcuts, and ability to manually position where things are. His app can handle my Folder Organizer things, and his new add on *may* be a better way to go. But no Home option, nor recent tasks (which I've asked for), so I'm using the apps here in this thread to handle it.

(btw, currently using Swipe 'cause of playing with new add on to see how well it works. been using Quick Launcher for a couple days prior to see if I would get used to the small icons, which I didn't, they are just too danged small. obv. I keep all but whichever launcher I am currently using disabled)

Quick Launcher (I mailed Steve/Clutch dev) about this - has a *very* nice way of adding apps & shortcuts and ordering them - but the icons are WAY too small, and he doesn't handle recent tasks at all. When I use Quick Launcher, I use the 2 apps in this thread on it (Home, Last Task).

I should add that in general, I prefer a click over a slide. That's why when I use Clutch I click the icon for favorites (which I use most often), and use the long press for recent tasks (next most often). Swipe up is last task and swipe down is home.

BTW, thanks for posting, Steve. I love it when the dev's are active in working on requests from the end-users!

Now, how much do I have to beg/bribe/pray to get that Shortcut ability in there?

OH - one other reason for the shortcuts - currently favorites are sorted alphabetically. With shortcuts, instead of adding apps to my favorite list, I can add only Folder Organizer folder labels AND Folder Organizer items. Items include apps in Folder Organizer *but with the names & icons I put into Folder Organizer* !!

This means that I can go into FO, manually change the icon & name - and it would show that way in Clutch. I assume this would include the sort.

So I could name my FO icons stuff like "_01 Favorite Apps" "_02 Internet Apps" "_11 Messaging" "_12 iReader" "_13 NewsRob"

Since Clutch doesn't show names (which I like), I won't see the funky names but I expect the sort would then be fixed in the order I want! I think.

[beg/bribe!]

Probably shouldn't be typing this kind of thing right before bed, cause this is a lot of rambling! :)